Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo
Harare Bureau
Caps United 1-1 FC Platinum
THIS top-of-the-table Castle Lager Premier Soccer League showdown at the National Sports Stadium was expected to be explosive.
Both teams dished a complete menu and even applied the aesthetics and cosmetics to good effect too. Probably a draw was a fair result as either dominated one half in equal measure.
Even the coaches, Caps United’s Lloyd Chitembwe and his FC Platinum counterpart Norman Mapeza took a share of the spoils with a smile.
Reigning Soccer Star of the Year first runner-up William Manondo put the home side in front in the opening half when he planted home a header with five minutes before the break from a good corner-kick delivery by Godknows Murwira before substitute Perfect Chikwende equalised with six minutes on the clock. Makepekepe remained on top of the standings after taking their tally to 11 points in five games, one above FC Platinum who are second.
It was a good display of football between two clubs that play the most beautiful game in the league. This was arguably the most exciting match seen in the top-flight this season. Although FC Platinum started the brighter team in the opening moments, Caps United dominated the first stanza with aplomb.
The only reason they went to the break carrying just a 1-0 lead was their bluntness in front of goal.
The Green Machine coach Chitembwe was happy with how his charges expressed themselves in a match he described as exciting.
“I thought it was a very good game of football. I am extremely happy with the way both teams played. It went exactly the way I predicted, I expected the match to be an exciting one and it turned out to be one,” said Chitembwe.
“Conceding late is part of the game. I am not disappointed. Not at all. It’s a point that we take with honour as we were playing against the reigning champions. We were going into the right areas and I think those are the positives. There is a lot that we took out of this game. “I am happy and looking forward to more exciting matches.”
Mapeza pointed out that although his team had targeted at least 12 points in the opening five games, he was still happy with the 10 they collected including yesterday’s single point.
“I think it’s a good result but first half, yes we were okay, but we were failing to hold onto the ball. We also failed to take our opportunities, I think we had so many breaks but our execution was not spot on,” said Mapeza.
“They got a corner kick then we conceded. Second half was a little bit better. We kept on pushing. We limited their movements a lot. A draw is a fair result for us. I think it was a good game of football. On Thursday, we lost one of our own (Platinum Queens netball player). It wasn’t easy for us. But we managed to come back into the match and the point is massive for us. We had been aiming to finish these first five games either on 13 points or12 points but at the end of the day, 10 points is massive for us.”
Teams
Caps United: T Mateyaunga, G Murwira, I Zambezi, B Musaka, K Madzongwe, D Chafa, B Sarupinda (Mangaira 85 mins), J Tulani, P Bamusi, R Chinyengetere, W Manondo (Rupiya 77 mins)
FC Platinum: W Magalane, G Mbweti, K Mangiza (Chinyerere 46 min)s, L Mhlanga, M Ngwenya, I Mucheneka (Pavari 68 mins), J Mutudza (Emmanuel Chikwende 83 mins) B Banda, P Mutimbanyoka (Selemani 73 mins), W Musona, T Ngwenya(Perfect Chikwende 68 mins).
— @manyepotaddy3da
derick.khumalo